More Security Staff Hired Across 27 NSW Hospitals After Alleged Hospital Assault

The NSW Government will recruit an additional 129 frontline hospital security staff across 27 public hospitals as part of a $113 million investment, following an alleged assault on a nurse and a doctor at Concord Hospital this week.

The announcement was made after both healthcare workers were put under medical treatment, with one suffering from a broken wrist.

Police said the 44-year-old woman was restrained and sedated after the alleged assault on Tuesday 10 November. She remained in hospital while the circumstances were investigated, three hours after officers were notified.

Hospital management described the woman as a ‘mental health consumer’ in an internal email to staff, according to reporting by the ABC.

$113 Million For Hospital Security

The $113 million investment is part of ongoing engagement with unions and the health workforce, and expands on the recruitment of 180 security staff at NSW public hospitals since 2023 – a 13 per cent increase.

The recruitment is expected to provide full-time security coverage across the 27 hospitals.

Health Minister Ryan Park said the additional staff were a first step towards improving safety across hospitals.

“Violence in our hospitals is unacceptable – accounts of these incidents are distressing, and we are determined to clamp down on these occurrences,” Mr Park said.

Existing measures to prevent and manage violence at hospitals include security patrols, staff safety briefings, CCTV monitoring and procedures to identify patients at risk of escalating behaviour.

A NSW Health Safety Taskforce, made up of representatives from NSW Health, unions and local health districts, has also been established to identify ways to improve safety for staff, patients and visitors.

Unions Call For More Support

The Health Services Union (HSU) has acknowledged the announcement of additional security staff, but says more needs to be done to prevent violence before it occurs.

HSU secretary Gerard Hayes said emergency departments were more vulnerable to aggression and violence because of the number of patients they manage.

City Hub contacted NSW Police for an update on the investigation but had not received a response at the time of publication.